Nickson was the Commodores' starting quarterback for much of the 2008 season when they won their first bowl game in 26 years. He was arrested after his girlfriend arrived at the Hermitage police precinct back on Dec. 31, 2009, with bruises all over her body, a welt on the side of her face, a swollen lip and cuts on her shoulders, according to affidavits from the Metro Nashville Police Department.

She told detectives that she and Nickson had been arguing earlier in the day, and when she told Nickson she no longer wanted to be with him, the argument turned physical. She reported that Nickson held her in their home for roughly seven hours, slapped her and hit her on numerous occasions and pushed her to the ground.

At one point, she told police she tried to leave and Nickson dragged her back into the house by her hair, according to the affidavit.